Between nationalism and transnationalism : multiculturalism in a globalising world

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

    Abstract

    This paper addresses varying modes of ‘multiculturalism’ as a mode of governmentality in the contemporary globalising world. It juxtaposes the case of the non-Western, postcolonial state of Malaysia and that of the Western, immigration-driven settler society of Australia to describe the convergence of two opposing historical trajectories in the national management of ethnically diverse populations: the former (Malaysian) case guided by the idea of pluralist segregation, the latter (Australian) case by that of assimilation. The juxtaposition highlights the ambivalence inherent in multicultural governmentality. While multiculturalism provides nation-states with the discursive means to square ethno-cultural diversity with national unity by embracing a more open cosmopolitanism and hybrid identity, this is an unstable settlement which, if left unchecked, may threaten to destabilise and transcend the very boundaries of the nation in an increasingly transnational world.
    Original languageEnglish
    Number of pages14
    JournalCentre for Cultural Research Occasional Paper Series
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2010

    Keywords

    • Australia
    • Malaysia
    • cosmopolitanism
    • hybridity
    • multiculturalism
    • nationalism
    • pluralism
    • tOPICS
    • transnationalism

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Between nationalism and transnationalism : multiculturalism in a globalising world'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this